Our top 10 places to stay in and around Nan
Central Nan’s classiest option
The impressive old teak-fronted Phuka Nanfa used to be a slightly rundown flashpacker spot but is another Nan hotel that’s seen a total makeover of late.
It now places itself firmly in the boutique Lanna category, with prices to match. This is as upmarket as you’ll find in downtown Nan. We confess to preferring the old rickety Nanfa managed by Nan’s equivalent of Basil Fawlty who’d occasionally stagger home worse for wear so you’d be woken up as he got a earful from ‘Cybil’ waiting in ambush in reception. It had character but now has pretensions.
Yes, the 80-year-old teak building is very impressive, and was well worthy of conservation, but it’s still a small hotel with no pool, no restaurant as such (a tiny cafe area serves breakfast) and zero garden looking directly onto the pavement of a busy street. We can’t see how it justifies its price tags: in peak season their rooms go for up to 5,300 baht, though apparently discounts are available on their site for low season and weekends. It certainly seems to appeal to well-heeled domestic tourists though and when we visited in high season it was full, so if this does float your boat you’d better book in advance. Rooms and communal areas – library and lobby – are all very pleasant indeed, with polished old teak floors, wall panelling and furniture, and tasteful Lanna-style decorations. Rooms come with equally well decorated bathrooms, WiFi, flatscreen TVs, cable and breakfast is included in the rate. It’s all very good if you have the cash, and of course location is very convenient -- but we do miss Basil!
Address: 369 Sumondhewaraj Rd, Nan
T: (054) 771 111; F: (054) 710 284
Email: reservation@pukhananfahotel.co.th
Web: http://www.pukhananfahotel.co.th
Coordinates (for GPS): 100º46'31.65" E, 18º46'40.98" N
See position in Apple or Google Maps: Apple Maps | Google Maps
Room rates: 1,500B to 4,000B
What we were quoted as a walk-in.
| Extra Bed | 600 baht | 600 baht |
| Standard double room Peak: 2,900 baht | 2,400 baht | 2,600 baht |
| Superior double room Peak: 3,800 baht | 3,100 baht | 3,400 baht |
| Deluxe double room Peak: 4,400 baht | 3,600 baht | 3,900 baht |
| Suite Peak: 5,300 baht | 4,300 baht | 4,700 baht |
Reviewed by
Mark Ord
Based in Chiang Mai, Mark Ord has been travelling Southeast Asia for over two decades and first crossed paths with Travelfish on Ko Lipe in the early 1990s.
Our top 10 places to stay in and around Nan
